Thousands gather for pro-Israel rally in Sydney amid anti-Semitism warning

Thousands of Australians have come out in force for a “set them free” rally organised by Jewish Australians.

Thousands of Israel supporters have travelled to Moore Park as part of a “Set Them Free Rally”. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dylan Robinson

Thousands of people have turned out for the “Set Them Free” rally in Sydney, where a Jewish-Australian leader has warned unless anti-Semitism was confronted by all, “it will devour once more”.

Alex Ryvchin, co-chief executive of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, told the 5000-strong crowd gathered at Moore Park on Sunday afternoon that with the support of the “civilised, peace-loving people of the world, we will complete our mission, to defeat evil and to bring light to the world”.

Organisers said the aim of the solidarity vigil was to honour the victims – Israeli and foreign – of Hamas’ deadly attacks on October 7.

Mr Ryvchin told the crowd that that Jewish people stood united with “hope in our hearts” for the “swift and complete victory” of Israeli forces, for the rescue of every hostage, for the destruction of Hamas, and for “an era of peace for the land of Israel”.

“But we have also been stripped of blind hope, of delusion. Those days are over. We now know that evil exists, and we know what it looks like,” he told the crowd.

At least 5000 people attended the rally. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dylan Robinson

The vigil comes as pro-Palestinian rallies are organised across the country on Sunday. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dylan Robinson

It’s been over a month since Hamas launched its deadly attacks on Israel on October 7, and took hundreds of Israelis hostage.

While the international community, including Australia, has supported Israel’s right to defend itself, calls are growing for a ceasefire as the death toll in Gaza climbs over 11,000 and hospitals are targeted.

While the conflict plays out overseas, at home tensions have risen between Israeli and Palestinian supporters.

A violent clash broke out in the heavily Jewish populated Melbourne suburb of Caulfield on Friday night, after pro-Palestinians took to the streets.

A nearby synagogue was evacuated, which led to a violent confrontation that police had to intervene in.

On Sunday morning, the opposition’s defence spokesman Andrew Hastie labelled the protest “anti-Semitic” and “thuggish”, while Defence Minister Richard Marles called for “careful” language.

The rally came before a pro-Palestine event was planned for later in the afternoon. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dylan Robinson

Speaking at the rally, Mr Ryvchin said evil could not be bargained with or placated, as Jewish people have learned “through bitter experience”, and that it “can only destroy or be destroyed”.

“If before October 7, the world did not know what we as Jews, as Zionists, were fighting for, now at least they know what we are fighting against,” he said.

“And we, our generation, has seen that antisemitism may slumber, but it never dies.

The rally honoured victims from Israel and over 40+ countries whose nationals were murdered, injured or taken hostage by Hamas. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dylan Robinson

“Now it chants in our streets, it marks our businesses, it tries to terrorise us in our homes and our synagogues. And if it not confronted by us all, it will devour once more.”

A pro-Palestine rally was planned to take place just down the road at Hyde Park later on Sunday, with other events to take place around the country.